Fitness device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a fitness device having a rigid tubular frame which has a continuous shape and consists of one region with a handle and one region with a running surface, at least two rollers and two shock absorbers. The shock absorbers delimit the region with the running surface. The at least two rollers are held via a retaining tubular frame and can be moved on the running surface of the frame. The at least two rollers can be moved on the running surface between the two shock absorbers. A weight is attached to the retaining tubular frame screws and wing nuts are arranged on the retaining tubular frame. The rolling force of the rollers can be adjusted using the screws and wing nuts.

The present invention relates to a fitness device.

Fitness devices for exercising one's arms may either be dumbbells that have an unmodifiable weight and do not have any movable parts or fitness devices that have a more or less rigid frame that is hollow and holds balls as weights. A known fitness device for exercising one's arms is commercialized under the name “Smoveys” and described in EP2029241B1. It consists of a hollow tubular frame that holds balls. The frame is implemented as a spiral hose. The balls make a loud noise when moving inside the frame. The weight of the balls is not adaptable.

The goal of the present invention consists in providing a fitness device that can be adapted to a user's training habits and is simple to use without making too much noise.

According to the invention, this goal is achieved by providing a fitness device comprising: a rigid tubular frame that has a continuous shape and consists of a region with a handle and a region with a running surface; at least two rollers; two shock absorbers delimiting said region with said running surface; said at least two rollers being retained via a tubular retaining frame and being movable on said running surface of the frame; said at least two rollers being movable between said two shock absorbers on said running surface; a weight being attached to said tubular retaining frame; screws and wing nuts being arranged on said tubular retaining frame; the rolling force of said rollers being adjustable via said screws and wing nuts.

This device is a very efficient training device. The rollers can be moved back and forth on the running surface. They move over the running surface almost without making any noise. The training resistance may be adjusted to a user's needs via the screws and wing nuts. The weight that is attached to the outside of the rollers always adjusts the rollers so that they are oriented in a vertical direction, independent of the way in which the fitness device is held. This allows for carrying, out various training exercises; the weight will always be oriented towards the earth's gravity field.

In an embodiment the weight may be exchangeable. This allows for an additional adaption of the fitness device to a user's needs by exchanging its weight. At the beginning of a training schedule, exercises may be carried out with a smaller weight that can then be increased in the course of the training schedule.

In another embodiment said at least two rollers can be arranged inside a ball. Such an arrangement inside a ball simplifies the device's mechanics and its appearance. The rollers will be protected from getting soiled. At the same time, the ball also constitutes the weight. The ball can also be exchanged for a lighter or a heavier ball.

In another embodiment, the shock absorbers may be rubber absorbers, springs or foam rubber. Such shock absorbers result in a good absorption of the rollers' impact on the running surface.

In a further embodiment, the rollers' surface is adapted to the shape of the frame's cross-section. By adapting the rollers to the frame's cross-section (profile), better running properties of the rollers are achieved. This allows for easier rolling.

In one embodiment of the invention, the frame's running surface on which the rollers move may have a cross-shaped embossing and/or a longitudinal cut and/or ridges and/or recesses. By attaching structures to the surface of the running surface, the running smoothness of the rollers can be improved or slight vibrations that are beneficial to achieve a training effect can be generated.

In another embodiment of the invention, the rollers may have a cross-shaped embossing and/or a longitudinal cut and/or ridges and/or recesses. By attaching structures to the surface of the rollers, the running smoothness of the rollers can be improved or slight vibrations that are beneficial to achieve a training effect can be generated. If both the running surface and the rollers have a structure, the structure of the running surface may be adapted to that of the rollers and vice versa, e.g., the roller may comprise a negative profile of the running surface or vice versa.

In one embodiment of the invention, springs that press the rolls onto the frame may be arranged on the tubular retaining frame. This guarantees that the rollers will always remain in contact with the running surface.

In another embodiment of the invention, the rollers may be embodied as ball roller bearings, roller bearings or full wheel systems. In such an embodiment, the rollers will always be adjusted by the weight, so that the weight will point into the direction of the earth's gravity field. They can be rotated by 360° in relation to the frame.

In one embodiment of the invention, there may be more than two rollers and these rollers may preferably be arranged around the frame's cross-section. This allows for reducing the roller's size, which, in turn, allows for reducing the dimensions of the fitness device.

In another embodiment of the invention, several rollers may be arranged on a line one after the other, being pressed onto the frame by leaf springs. This way, the rollers can be guaranteed to run smoothly.

The references below stand for:

-   1 tubular frame -   2 handle -   3 running surface -   4 rollers -   5 shock absorbers -   6 tubular retaining frame -   7 weight -   8 screw -   9 wing nut -   10 ball -   11 cross-shaped embossing of the running surface -   13 ridge on the running surface -   14 recess in the running surface -   21 cross-shaped embossing on the roller -   23 ridge on the roller -   24 recess in the roller -   15 springs on the tubular retaining frame -   16 ball roller bearing -   17 roller bearing -   18 full wheel system -   19 leaf springs

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention that has ridges on and recesses in the running surface and includes a ball in which the rollers are arranged.

FIG. 2 shows a tubular retaining frame with screws, wing nuts and springs.

FIG. 3 shows a ball roller bearing, a roller bearing and a full wheel system as an embodiment of the roller in FIG. 3a and the arrangement of the rollers in the tubular retaining frame and the adjustment of the rollers to the profile of the running surface in FIG. 3 b.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention that has a recess in the running surface and a matching ridge on the roller.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention with a cross-shaped embossing on the running surface and a matching cross-shaped embossing on the roller.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention with transverse grooves, ridges on and recesses in the running surface.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention with ridges on and recesses in the rollers.

FIG. 8 shows a three-dimensional view of a fitness device of the invention with ridges on and recesses in the rollers.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the invention with several rollers that are arranged one after the other and leaf springs.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of the use of the fitness device of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Fitness Device

The fitness device comprises the following: a rigid tubular frame 1 which has a continuous shape and consists of one region with a handle 2 and one region with a running surface 3; at least two rollers 4; two shock absorbers 5, said shock absorbers 5 delimiting said region with the running surface 3; said at least two rollers 4 being retained by a tubular retaining frame 6 and being movable on the running surface 3 of the frame 1; said at least two rollers 4 being movable between said two shock absorbers 5 on the running surface 3; a weight 7 being attached to the tubular retaining frame 6; screws 8 and wing nuts 9 being arranged on the tubular retaining frame 6; the rolling force of the rollers 4 being adjustable via said screws 8 and wing nuts 9.

The rollers 4 can be moved back and forth on the running surface 3. They can move over the running surface 3 almost without making any noise. The training resistance can be adjusted to a user's needs via the screws 8 and the wing nuts 9. The weight 7 that is attached to the outside of the rollers 4 results in the rollers 4 always being oriented vertically, independent of the orientation in which the fitness device is held. This allows for carrying out various training exercises; the weight 7 will always point in the direction of the earth's gravity field.

The weight 7 can be exchangeable. This additionally allows for adjusting the fitness device to a user's needs by exchanging the weight 7. At the beginning of the training schedule, the user may start using a smaller weight that will then be increased in the course of the training schedule.

The at least two rollers 4 can be arranged in a ball 10. Such an arrangement inside a ball 10 simplifies the device's mechanics and its appearance. The rollers 4 will be protected from getting soiled. At the same time, the ball 10 constitutes the weight 7. The ball 10 can also be exchanged for a lighter or a heavier ball.

The shock absorbers 5 may be rubber absorbers, springs or foam rubber. Such shock absorbers 5 absorb well the impact of the rollers 4 at the end of the running surface 3.

The surface of the rollers 4 can be adapted to the shape of the cross-section of the frame 1. Better running properties of the rollers 4 can be achieved by adapting the rollers 4 to the cross-section (profile) of the frame 1. Smoother running can thus be guaranteed.

Springs 15 that press the rollers 4 onto the frame 1 may be arranged on the tubular retaining frame 6. This guarantees that the rollers 4 will always remain in contact with the running surface 3.

The weight 7 may, for example, amount to from 200 g to 5 kg. The ball 10 may, for example, have a diameter of 5 to 15 cm. The rollers 4 may, for example, have diameters from 1.5 to 6 cm. The frame may, for example, have a circumference of 50 to 150 cm.

Example 2: Fitness Device Having a Structure on the Running Surface 3 and/or the Rollers 4

Additionally or alternatively to the characteristics described in Example 1, the running surface 3 of the frame 1 on which the rollers 4 move may have a cross-shaped embossing 11 and/or a longitudinal cut and/or ridges 13 and/or recesses 14. By attaching structures to the surface of the running surface 3, the running smoothness of the rollers 4 can be improved or slight vibrations that are beneficial to achieve a training effect can be generated. Vibrations promote circulation and muscle relaxation.

In another embodiment of the invention, the rollers 4 may have a cross-shaped embossing 21 and/or a longitudinal cut and/or ridges 23 and/or recesses 24. By attaching structures to the surface of the rollers 4, the running smoothness of the rollers 4 can be improved or slight vibrations that are beneficial to achieve a training effect can be generated. Vibrations promote circulation and muscle relaxation.

Either only the running surface 3 may comprise a structure or only the rollers 4 may comprise a structure or both, the running surface 3 and the rollers 4 may comprise structures. It is possible that the rollers 4 comprise the negative structure of the running surface 3, which makes it easier for them to move on the running surface 3.

Example 3: Fitness Device with Rollers Having a Special Shape

Additionally or alternatively to the characteristics described in Example 1 and/or Example 2, the rollers 4 may be embodied as ball roller bearings 16, roller bearings 16 or full wheel systems 18. These embodiments of the rollers 4 allow the rollers 4 to always adjust the weight 7 so that it points in the direction of the earth's gravity field. They may be rotated by 360° around the frame.

Example 4: Fitness Device Having More than Two Rollers 4

Additionally or alternatively to the characteristics described in Example 1 and/or Example 2 and/or Example 3, more than two rollers 4 may be provided and they may preferably be arranged around the cross-section of the frame 1. This allows for a reduction of the size of the rollers 4, which, in turn, allows for smaller dimensions of the fitness device.

Several rollers 4 may also be arranged one after the other along a line and pressed onto the frame 1 by leaf springs 19. This way, the rollers can be guaranteed to run smoothly. 

1.-11. (canceled)
 12. A fitness device, comprising a rigid tubular frame (1) that has a continuous shape and consists of a region with a handle (2) and a region with a running surface (3); at least two rollers (4); two shock absorbers (5); wherein said shock absorbers (5) delimit said region with said running surface (3); said at least two rollers (4) are retained via a tubular retaining frame (6) and are movable on the running surface (3) of the frame (1); said at least two rollers (4) are movable on said running surface (3) between said two shock absorbers (5); a weight (7) is attached to said tubular retaining frame (6); screws (8) and wing nuts (9) are arranged on said tubular retaining frame (6); the rolling force of said rollers (4) is adjustable using said screws (8) and wing nuts (9).
 13. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein said weight (7) is exchangeable.
 14. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein said at least two rollers (4) are arranged inside a ball (10).
 15. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein said shock absorbers (5) are rubber absorbers, springs or foam rubber.
 16. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein the surfaces of the rollers (4) are adjusted to the cross-sectional shape of the frame (1).
 17. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein said running surface (3) of the frame (1), on which the rollers (4) move, has a cross-shaped embossing (11) and/or a longitudinal cut and/or ridges (13) and/or recesses (14).
 18. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein said rollers (4) have a cross-shaped embossing (21) and/or a longitudinal cut and/or ridges (23) and/or recesses (24).
 19. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein springs (15) that press said rollers (4) onto the frame (1) are arranged on said tubular retaining frame (6).
 20. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein said rollers (4) are embodied as ball roller bearings (16), roller bearings (17) or full wheel systems (18).
 21. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein there are more than two rollers (4) and that these rollers preferably are arranged around the cross-section of the frame (1).
 22. The fitness device according to claim 12, wherein several rollers (4) are arranged along a line one after the other and are pressed onto the frame (1) by leaf springs (19). 